Lenz takes shock pole at Le Mans

29 September 2018

Sasha Lenz went fastest of all in Saturday’s Super Pole session at Le Mans, to clinch a shock pole position...

Sasha Lenz went fastest of all in Saturday’s Super Pole session at Le Mans, to clinch a shock pole position. The German, aboard his family-run SL Trucksport set a time of 2:05.205 to reprise his 2007 first ever pole.

Title favourite Jochen Hahn (Team Hahn Racing/IVECO), who has been dominant from the off at Le Mans, was 00.183s slower than his compatriot and lines up second.

Third went to another German Andre Kursim, driving his Don’t Touch Racing run IVECO as he sealed his best Super Pole performance of the season.

Norbert Kiss in his Team Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz qualified just outside the top three, but crucially for him, one place ahead of Antonio Albacete (Truck Sport Lutz Bernau/MAN) who he currently battles with for third in the championship.

Ryan Smith, returning this weekend to the FIA ETRC, went sixth-fastest and will start ahead of Adam Lacko, Steffi Halm, Jose Rodrigues, and Rene Reinert, who rounded out the top ten.

Frankie Vojtisek, who returns to the FIA ETERC for the first time since Most in August is not allowed to start the first race due to a disciplinary penalty carried over from the races at Slovakia Ring and Most.

Kursim tops Timed Practice, Hahn only sixth

Andre Kursim aboard his Don’t Touch Racing IVECO set the fastest time in the Timed Practice held before. Kursim drove a lap of Circuit Bugatti in 2:05.955, pipping Kiss by just 0.112.

Ryan Smith completed the top three. Fourth went to Lenz, who finished ahead of Albacete. Hahn, who topped both free practice sessions held on Friday, finished only sixth, being the last driver within a second off Kursim’s benchmark time.

For full results click here.

Race 1 will start at 14:40 local time.